Two months ago

Since the day the Lin family moved to the land at the foot of the mountain, everyone in the family has adapted and divided up their responsibilities to build a new life. Lin Qing'an, the eldest daughter, has truly become the breadwinner of the family. She wakes up early in the morning before the first rays of the sun, carrying a woven basket her father used to make for her. She nimbly walks up the mountain as if she knows every nook and cranny of the forest. She has a keen eye for finding rare herbs, wild fruits in season, and mushrooms hidden in the shadows of large trees.

Some days when the sky was clear, Lin Qing'an would sit and watch the clear stream that flowed behind the estate. She sat so still, she could barely move, her hand holding a homemade fishing rod from bamboo. The fish she caught ranged from small to medium-sized. Although they were not enough to sell, they were enough to bring back for her mother Lin Ai to cook various dishes to nourish her father's body.

" Qing An, are you awake ?" Lin Ai asked as she walked out of the small kitchen with a bucket of water in her hand.

" Yes, Mother. I will go up the mountain early in the morning. I will have a lot of herbs to collect today because it rained last night," she replied, tying her hair neatly and putting her favorite woven basket on her shoulder.

" Be careful, son. Don't go too far into the stream," Lin Ai warned with concern.

" Don't worry about me, I'm all grown up." Lin Qing'an smiled faintly before walking out briskly.

In the forest, Lin Qing'an walked nimbly, her feet barely tripping over the fallen leaves. She stopped to check under the base of a large tree, and found a freshly grown mushroom, so she quickly picked it up and put it in a basket. She looked for a medicinal herb that liked to grow near the stream, and carefully dug it up with a small knife.

In the past two months, Lin Changyu had been closely cared for by his family, and his injuries had begun to recover. From being so injured that he could barely stand, he was now able to walk on his own. Thanks to the food Lin Ai cooked for him with fresh ingredients from the forest and streams, as well as the quiet and abundant nature in the environment, his body was getting stronger day by day.

When Lin Changyu felt strong enough, he would often sit in the courtyard and do some small woodwork. He would weave baskets, make chicken coops, or make necessary tools for the house. Doing even a small amount of work made him feel that he was still valuable and helped ease the burden on his family.

In the evening, when everyone returned, Lin Ai was cooking a pot of fish soup on the stove, while Lin Changyu was weaving a basket with bamboo that he had sharpened himself.

" Father, are you done ?" Lin Qingcheng asked, reaching out her small hand to grab the new basket excitedly.

" Almost done, just need to finish the edges. I plan to sell it in the market someday," Lin Changyu said proudly.

" If you can sell them, I will save up the money to buy more seeds for you," Lin Qing'an interjected with a smile.

" Qing'an, you don't have to do everything by yourself. Your parents can help you," Lin Ai said as she placed the pot of soup on the wooden table.

" Yes, Qingyang and I will help !" Lin Qingcheng smiled widely and looked at his younger brother sitting beside him.

" You only helped pull weeds from the vegetable plot," Lin Qingyang teased his twin brother.

" Do you want to try it yourself?! " Lin Qingcheng put his hands on his waist.

" Enough, my child. Don't quarrel over trivial matters." Lin Changyu said with a chuckle. The atmosphere around the dining table was filled with laughter and warmth.

The county market, a two-hour walk away, was a gathering place for the locals. Lin Qing'an woke up at dawn to prepare the wild produce she had gathered over the course of a week. Large baskets were filled with carefully selected herbs, colorful wild fruits, and rare mushrooms.

" Mother, I'm going to the market," Lin Qing'an said to Lin Ai, who was mending clothes in the kitchen corner.

" Take good care of yourself, my child. Don't be too soft-hearted to those who bargain too much," Lin Ai warned with concern.

" Yes, Mother." She smiled faintly before grabbing the basket and walking out of the house.

Along the way, Lin Qing'an passed through a familiar forest. The sound of birds chirping and the wind blowing through the leaves made her feel calm. Although the path was steep and had large rocks, she walked steadily.

When they arrived at the market, the sounds of people bustling around filled the air. Lin Qing'an placed her basket in a corner where there were a lot of people. She began to arrange the herbs and fruits to make it look eye-catching.

" Little girl, how much is this herb ?" An old man walked in and asked.

" Ten e-pae per fist, uncle," she replied politely.

" Hmm, it's a bit expensive. Can you lower the price a bit?" the old man said.

" Uncle, I collected these herbs from a high mountain. It took me a long time to get them. If I lower the price any further, I'll lose money," Lin Qing'an explained in a calm but firm tone.

The old man pondered for a moment before nodding. "Okay, okay. You're speaking well. I'll buy it."

Lin Qing'an smiled with satisfaction as she took the money and handed the herbs to the old man.

After selling a fair amount of goods, Lin Qing'an explored the market, looking for new seeds to plant in her family's vegetable patch.

" How much are these mustard seeds ?" she asked the vendor who was setting up his stall.

" Two e-pae per pack. If you buy three packs, I'll give you five e-pae," the vendor replied.

She picked up the seeds and examined them carefully before deciding to buy them.

" I would like three packs, please."

When she got what she needed, she also bought extra salt for cooking and some thick rags to mend her father's clothes. When she got home, she would often put the remaining money in a small wooden box under her bed.

On her way home, Lin Qing'an thought about her future plans. If her father recovered, she hoped to take him to the mountain stream to fish and catch wild shrimps. She intended to collect some fresh fish and sell them at the market.

" One day, our family will not have to rely solely on forest products. We will have a stable income," she thought to herself.

When he arrived home, Lin Changyun sat beside the wooden porch, smiling at his daughter.

" Did it sell well, son ?"

" Yes, Father. Today, I got both money and new seeds. I hope that soon we will have better yields."

" You did well, Qing'an. I'm proud of you," he said warmly.

Lin Qing'an smiled broadly and looked at her father with confidence.

" When father recovers, I will take you to catch fish in the mountains, and then we will start over together."

Lin Changyu nodded, "Father has always been waiting for that day."

Lin Qing'an sat on the edge of the courtyard, looking at the twinkling stars. Lin Changyu saw that her daughter was absent-minded and could not help but ask her.

" Qing An, what are you thinking about ?"

" I think about our future, Father. When you are strong, I dream that we will open a shop in a big city," she said in a firm voice.

Lin Changyu looked at his daughter with pride.

" I believe you can do it. My son never gives up."

Lin Qing'an smiled faintly, her eyes still fixed on the stars in the sky.

" Someday, our family will have a better life. I promise …" Her voice was soft but full of determination.